Beyond the Browser: Imagining Life in a Post-Web World
“The most profound technologies are those that disappear. They weave themselves into the fabric of everyday life until they are indistinguishable from it.” — Mark Weiser, The Computer for the 21st Century
In the post-web era, the boundaries of economic value shift as AI seamlessly embeds into daily life, guiding us away from visible, screen-based interactions and toward intention-driven assistance. Beyond a technical leap, this era reimagines our relationship with technology, introducing hypotheses about what users prioritize, how digital interactions unfold, and what constitutes value in a purpose-driven digital landscape. Below, we explore this potential world, examining the ethos, economic structure, and evolving digital relationships that define it.
Ethos and Foundation of the Post-Web Economy
The ethos of the post-web world hinges on a reorientation from sheer volume of content to depth and relevance, from passive consumption to intentional engagement. This aligns with the first hypothesis: Users Prioritize Quality and Relevance Over Volume and Novelty. Rather than being inundated with information, users seek technology that serves precise needs without drawing excessive attention. Here, quality means AI systems should respond with relevance, subtly providing…
